write2bheard: "DoJ Now Investigating Diebold/ES&S Merger"--bradblog.com

Some of my friends and I saw a movie with Brad recently : ) at the Webster U. Winifred Moore Auditorium that is called "Murder, Spies and Voting Lies . . ." starring him and his friend Clint Curtis. You can find info on supporting his work on his website. The movie is a stunning revelation about recent U.S. history if you are not yet aware of the whole background to the failure of democracy that occurred in Florida (before Governor Crist, who helped to throw out DRE voting machines). Are these circumstances really changed yet? Good question!

Thank you to all the election integrity activists who have remained vigilant. Our local group is at http://www.mohonestelections.org/

Brad would appreciate a gift for the holidays from supporters at his own website. You can also order the DVD there.
--pmb

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DoJ Now Investigating Diebold/ES&S Merger

Anti-trust probes also said underway in 14 states...

Posted By Brad Friedman On 19th December 2009 @ 18:41 In Diebold/Premier, ES&S, Election Reform, Dept. of Justice | 5 Comments

On Thursday we reported ^[1] that Florida's AG office was investigating the recent acquisition of Diebold's voting machine unit by its larger/largest "competitor," ES&S, for possible violations of anti-trust statutes in the state. Today, the New York Post reports ^[2] that the U.S. Dept. of Justice is also actively investigating the same thing --- along with 14 states in total --- and may "file a suit to unwind the deal" next month...

The Department of Justice could vote down an already-completed merger of the two biggest makers of voting machines.

The Justice Department, Florida and 13 other states have opened investigations into the September marriage between Election Systems & Software and Diebold's Premier Election Solutions, which played a controversial role in the 2004 presidential election, according to a source with direct knowledge of the process.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is planning to hold hearings on the matter next month, the source said.

Even though the merger gave ES&S a whopping 70 percent of the voting-machine market share, the $5 million deal was too small to require government approval.

Now, the Justice Department is looking into the matter and next month could file a suit to unwind the deal, the source said.

Though the Post story seems to be based on a single, unnamed "source," they also note that "A Diebold spokesman confirmed the Ohio ATM maker was cooperating with a Justice Department investigation."

And while there are other "Justice Department investigation[s]" that Diebold is also cooperating with --- as The BRAD BLOG noted early this year ^[3], when the company's Chief Financial Officer was forced to stop down: "[Diebold has been] been facing a class-action securities fraud lawsuit ^[4] from shareholders since 2005; under SEC investigation ^[5] since 2006; and under DoJ investigation ^[6] since 2007; and admitted overstating '07 earnings ^[7] in early 2008" --- Reuters coverage of the story ^[8] offers more direct confirmation of the DoJ probe of this particular matter. "Diebold spokesman Michael Jacobsen said in an email that the company was cooperating with the Justice Department review of the sale," they report tonight.

BlackBoxVoting.org's ^[9] Bev Harris deserves much credit here, both for helping to get the anti-trust ball moving when the merger was first announced in September, as we reported at the time ^[10], but also for providing the DoJ a great deal of information, statistics, financial and legal analysis demonstrating the monopolistic nature of the sale, and the harm it presents to our already in-tatters system of election in the U.S.. See BBV's additional coverage here ^[11].

* * * We realize its Christmas in a horrible economy and spare dollars are few and far between. Nonetheless, if you can afford to share a few of them with us here at year's end, your generosity will be as appreciated as it is truly needed. The BRAD BLOG ^[12] covers your electoral system fiercely and independently, like no other media outlet in the nation. Please support our work with a donation ^[13] to help us keep going (Snail mail, more options here ^[14]). If you like, we'll send you some great, award-winning election integrity documentary films in return! Details right here... ^[15] And thank you in advance!

Article printed from The BRAD BLOG: http://www.bradblog.com

URL to article: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7592

URLs in this post:
[1] we reported: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7584
[2] New York Post reports: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/diebold_may_see_recount_Vyfn1AqaNLsaTZLSFt
Jr6O
[3] The BRAD BLOG noted early this year: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7018
[4] class-action securities fraud lawsuit: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=2154
[5] under SEC investigation: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=2805
[6] under DoJ investigation: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=5468
[7] admitted overstating '07 earnings: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=5669
[8] Reuters coverage of the story: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1925508020091219?type=marketsNews
[9] BlackBoxVoting.org's: http://blackboxvoting.org
[10] as we reported at the time: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7392
[11] BBV's additional coverage here: http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/8/80787.html
[12] The BRAD BLOG: http://www.BradBlog.com
[13] a donation: http://www.bradblog.comhttps://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=Brad@BradBlog.com&
#038;item_name=Support+for+The+BRAD+BLOG&item_number=2009
[14] Snail mail, more options here: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7194
[15] Details right here...: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=6662